"He had a confused sense that she must have cost a great deal to make, that a great many dull and ugly people must.have been sacrificed to produce her" (7) This is essentially true, as we find out when Lily describes her childhood. The use of descriptive details is important in the novel. This is a cruel society, one that is always testing, and one where the slightest event in the past will haunt the rest of the novel. "It amused him to think of putting her skill to the test" (5). Selden, not content to merely observe Lily, decides to challenge her social skills. Lily Bart is interpreted with the words "inferred" and "surmised", not words that lend themselves to establishing the truth, but rather to playing games.Īs part of the incessant interpretation of other people, the society has a cruelty that lends itself to testing. This is a society where every little detail is noticed and interpreted, and for which there are numerous possible interpretations.
She stood apart.wearing an air of irresolution which might, as he surmised, be the mask of a very definite purpose.he could never see her without a faint movement of interest" (5) Notice how observation is mixed with Selden's curiosity. As such the language used is one of curiosity and observation: "Selden paused in surprise.what was Miss Bart doing in town at that season? If she had appeared to be catching a train, he might have inferred that he had come on her in the act of transition between one and another of the country-houses which disputed her presence after the close of the Newport season but her desultory air perplexed him.
The House of Mirth is a novel of manners. Lily, ashamed by being caught in her lie, quickly grabs a cab and leaves him. He knows this because he happens to own the building. Lily foolishly makes up an excuse that she was just coming from her dressmaker, but Rosedale points out that The Benedick, the name of the building she just came out of, does not have any dressmakers in residence. While leaving his apartment building she runs into a Mr. He is curious about her sudden interest, but time soon runs out and she leaves him to head back to the train station. She then starts questioning him about his book collection, and specifically focuses on Americana. Lily points out that young women cannot live alone unless they have no plans to marry. In Selden's apartment they share their tea and discuss the various rules of etiquette for young women in the upper-class New York society. They end up on the street where he lives and he invites Miss Bart up for tea. After exchanging greetings, he agrees to take a walk with her and keep her company until her train arrives. He starts to walk past her and she greets him. Selden, a young bachelor, spots Lily Bart at the train station and wonders what she is doing there.
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